Foil Arrangement and Water Sports Apparatus

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a foil arrangement in which a fuselage is connected to a mast without any tools. Further, foil arrangement is disclosed, for which end sections of the mast are inserted into receiving pockets of a mast batten, a shoe or a fuselage, wherein intermediate pieces can be provided on the upstream and/or downstream side.

The invention relates to a foil arrangement according to the generic concept of patent claim 1 and to a water sports apparatus/watercraft equipped with such a foil arrangement.

Foil arrangements of this type, designed as hydrofoils, are used in kiteboarding and windsurfing, for example, and allow to travel faster than the wind even in very light winds in the wind range from 2 Bft already with comparatively small kites/sail surfaces. More recently, SUP boards or boards for surfing have also been designed with foil arrangements of this kind, making it possible to move significantly faster than with conventional boards in small waves or with sufficient propulsion.

Typically, such foil arrangements are attached to the board with their mast via a base plate or box system, such as a tuttle box, future box or the like.

Such a foil arrangement is described, for example, in DE 10 2015 104 199 A1, which goes back to the applicant.

Document US 2015/0017850 A1 discloses a foil arrangement for a watercraft in which the mast is inserted with a plurality of protrusions into corresponding recesses of a base plate attached to the watercraft. The necessary fitting elements on the base plate and on the mast or mast foot are very complex, so that the foil arrangement can only be implemented with a high degree of technical effort.

DE 10 2015 103 553 A1 describes a foil arrangement that can be pivoted when the water is shallow or when passing over an obstacle in order to reduce the draft. Such a pivoting foil arrangement is inferior to generic solutions in terms of stiffness and the associated hydrodynamic loads at high speeds.

WO 2011/075808 A1 describes a foil board provided with a removable foil arrangement, so that this board can be used for foiling as well as for conventional surfing or kitesurfing (without any foil).

In this known solution, the mast of the foil arrangement is designed with an adapter plate that is screwed to a board-side base plate. Loosening or fastening the foil arrangement to the board is relatively complex, as a large number of screws have to be loosened or tightened.

To overcome this disadvantage, it is proposed in DE 10 2018 106 212 A1, which is also attributable to the applicant, that the connection between the board-side base plate and the mast is made by means of a quick-release mechanism, so that loosening and fastening can be carried out without any tool. However, this solution, which is very easy to use, requires that the base plate receptacle and the corresponding mast-side counterpart, which is inserted into the base plate receptacle, are manufactured with the utmost precision, and care must be taken during insertion to ensure that this fit is not damaged. Particular care must be taken to ensure that no foreign objects, for example grains of sand, enter into the fitting area.

The mast is usually connected to the fuselage by inserting an end section of the mast into a corresponding receptacle in the fuselage and screwing it in. This screwing process requires the carrying of a tool, for example a screwdriver or an Allen key, so that appropriate storage space must be provided. Using the tool on the beach is also problematic, as care must be taken to ensure that no sand enters the tool's engagement area. Such a solution with a screwed fuselage is described, for example, in DE 20 2019 103 496 U1.

Document WO 2020/021138 A1 discloses a foil arrangement in which the mast is designed with an adapter plate that is attached to a base plate on the board side by means of two securing cotter pins. These protrude from the base plate on both sides, so that the inflow and outflow in this area is impeded and there is also the risk that the securing pins are accidentally loosened.

This PCT application further discloses a solution in which a fuselage is attached to the mast of the foil arrangement without tools via a latching mechanism. Such a latching connection is problematic with regard to stability on the one hand and also with regard to the precision of the positioning of the fuselage on the mast on the other hand.

The German utility model DE 20 2020 102 788 U1 discloses a concept in which the mast of a foil arrangement can be angled into a board-side bottom plate. The attachment of the fuselage is not addressed in this publication.

In contrast, the invention is based on the task of creating a foil arrangement for a water sports apparatus/watercraft or a water sports apparatus/watercraft equipped with such a foil arrangement, in which the assembly is simplified with a precise positional fixation compared to the prior art.

This task is solved with respect to the foil arrangement by the features of patent claim 1 and with respect to the water sports apparatus by the features of the adjacent patent claim 27.

Advantageous further embodiments of the invention are subject of the subclaims.

The foil arrangement according to the invention is designed in particular for use on a surfboard, SUP board, windsurfing board or kiteboard and has a mast which can be fixed to the water sports apparatus and whose end section, which is distant from the water sports apparatus, is detachably connected to a fuselage. This is designed in a per-se-known manner to carry wings (winglets). According to the concept of the invention, the connection between the mast and the fuselage is designed in such a way that the latter can be fixed to the mast without any tools.

This concept eliminates the need to carry one or more tools, making assembly much easier compared to traditional solutions.

In one embodiment of the invention, the mast has a shoe that can be inserted in a force-fitting and/or form-fitting manner into a receptacle on the fuselage-side and can be fixed in position there by means of at least one fixing means.

In kinematic reversal, it is also possible in principle to form the receptacle in the mast and to insert the fuselage into this receptacle at least partially.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the shoe and the receptacle are tapered in the insertion direction, so that precise relative positioning of the two components is ensured.

Tool-less mounting is particularly easy when the fixing means has a handle that plunges, in a fixed position, into a pocket of the fuselage when the shoe is connected to the mast, so that there is virtually no protrusion and the handle is optimally integrated hydrodynamically with minimal flow resistance.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the fixing means is a tensioning element, preferably a tensioning screw, a tensioning bolt or a tensioning lever.

Functional reliability is further improved if the fixing means/tensioning element is secured in the fixing position by means of a securing means.

This securing means can, for example, be a latch, wherein latching protrusions on the one hand and corresponding latching recesses on the other hand are formed, which come into active engagement with each other in the fixing position.

Alternatively, or additionally, the securing means can be a cover, preferably held pivotably on the fuselage, which covers the recess and the tensioning element in the fixing position so that accidental release is not possible.

In principle, the fuselage can also be fixed to the mast by means of two fixing means spaced apart from each other, both of which have a similar structure.

In a particularly preferred variant of the invention, the shoe is inserted into the receptacle by angling.

It is particularly advantageous if a pivot bearing is arranged at the receptacle or on the shoe, with which a counterpart is associated on the shoe or on the receptacle, wherein the receptacle and the pivot bearing are designed in such a way that the pivot bearing and the counterpart are, in the fixing position, engaged in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner such that the fuselage is reliably fixed to the mast and withstands all forces acting on it.

In a very simple embodiment, the pivot bearing is formed by a pin inserted into the recess, which, in the fixing position, plunges into a recess and is engaged behind by the peripheral wall thereof.

In an alternative solution, the pivot bearing is designed as a pivoting pocket corresponding to the pivoting radius, into which the complementary counterpart plunges in the fixing position.

The connection between the fuselage and the mast is particularly stable if the fixing means is formed at a distance from the pivot bearing.

In the case where the fixing means is a tensioning screw, it is preferably designed with a self-locking thread, for example a fine pitch thread.

In a preferred embodiment, the handle is designed as a rotary lever whose axis of rotation is coaxial with an axis of the fixing means.

The rotary lever can be a pivoting lever, for example, which is pivoted into the pocket of the fuselage in the fixing position.

If the depth of the pocket is approximately the same as the height of the rotary lever, the latter will be fully immersed in the recess in the fixing position.

In the fixing position, the gap dimensions can be further minimized if the outer circumference of the rotary lever is rounded to match the radius of the peripheral wall of the pocket.

In the event that the foil arrangement is exposed to extreme forces during a usage that does not correspond to a normal usage, for example during a regatta or speed contest, a tool attachment can be provided on the rotary lever so that an additional fixing force can be transmitted to the fixing means in the direction of the fixing position when a tool is used.

In an alternative solution, the mast and shoe are formed integrally. Such a solution can be manufactured, for example, from carbon fiber material or the like.

In conventional foil arrangements, the mast is attached to the water sports apparatus, for example the kiteboard/windsurf board, via a mast plate. On the fuselage-side, the mast is either equipped with a mast foot that is connected to the fuselage or the mast is inserted directly into a receiving pocket of the fuselage.

One problem with such an approach is that the mast has a hydrodynamically optimized “teardrop” profile, with a somewhat rounded leading edge and a relatively tapered trailing edge. For a precise fit of this mast profile into the mast plate or the fuselage/mast shoe, the receiving pocket must be designed according to this complex profile of the mast. Since these pockets are usually formed in an aluminum part, they can only be produced by milling, wherein this milling process is very time-consuming due to the very small radii or tapered surface sections in the area of the trailing and leading edges. For this reason, the end sections are usually milled off in an extra operation before inserting the mast, so that the receiving pocket is designed with a geometry that can be produced comparatively easily. Such a procedure is very elaborated. Accordingly, the foil arrangement according to patent claim 24 proposes to leave the leading and trailing edges of the mast unchanged in the area of the receiving pocket and to form the latter with a profile that is easy to manufacture and does not correspond exactly to the mast profile. The resulting space between the peripheral wall of the simple profile pocket and the end section of the mast is then filled by an intermediate piece that is inserted during assembly.

This intermediate piece can be made of plastic, for example, so that the manufacturing effort is minimal.

According to the invention, the intermediate piece is only formed in the area of the leading and/or trailing edge; the intermediate areas of the mast fit exactly in the receiving pocket.

In order to secure the intermediate piece to the mast, a bottom wall can be formed, which is used as a separate component or is made in one piece together with the intermediate piece. In this case, the bottom wall and the intermediate piece form an approximately cap-shaped structure.

As explained above, the invention also includes a water sports apparatus/watercraft equipped with a foil arrangement according to the preceding embodiments, wherein the fuselage carries wings/winglets.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. They show:

FIG. 1 is a highly simplified view of a water sports apparatus equipped with a foil arrangement according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the foil arrangement according to FIG. 1 in an assembly position in which a fuselage is not yet attached to a mast of the foil arrangement;

FIG. 3 is a depiction corresponding to FIG. 2 , in which the mast is pivoted into the fuselage position with one shoe;

FIG. 4 is a depiction corresponding to FIGS. 2 and 3 , wherein the mast is connected to the fuselage;

FIG. 5 is a detailed depiction of a shoe of the mast and a fuselage receptacle receiving the shoe;

FIG. 6 is the arrangement according to FIG. 5 , with the shoe inserted in the receptacle;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the arrangement according to FIG. 6 ;

FIG. 8 is another example of a foil arrangement,

FIG. 9 is a third example of a foil arrangement according to the invention with the shoe partially angled into the fuselage,

FIG. 10 is the foil arrangement according to FIG. 9 , with the shoe connected to the fuselage in its fixing position,

FIG. 11 is a schematic depiction of an end section on a fuselage-side of a mast of a foil arrangement inserted into a shoe,

FIG. 12 is a detailed depiction of a downstream area of the arrangement according to FIG. 11 and

FIG. 13 is an intermediate piece of the foil arrangement according to FIGS. 11 and 12 .

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a board 1 intended for surfing, kiting, wave riding, stand-up paddling (“SUP”) or windsurfing, to which a foil arrangement 2 according to the invention is attached. This has a mast 4 which is detachably fixed to the board 1 via a fixing device 6. Such a fixing device is shown in the subsequently published patent application PCT/EP2020/077803.

A fuselage 8 is attached to the end section of the mast 4, which is distant from the board 1, and which carries a front wing 10 at the front and a rear wing 12 at the rear. Both wings 10, 12 are each provided with winglets 14, 16, wherein in this embodiment the winglets 14 on the front wing 10 extend downward and the winglets 16 on the rear wing 12 extend upward—of course, other designs are also possible.

In the embodiment shown, it is intended that the mast 4 be made of an anodized aluminum alloy or the like. The fuselage 8 and the two wings 10, 12 can also be made of a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic; of course, these components can also be made entirely or partially from a metallic material.

As explained in detail below, the fuselage 8 is detachably connected to the mast 4 via a connection 18 (quickmount), wherein assembly/disassembly can be performed without any tools.

FIG. 2 shows a part of the fuselage 8 and a part of the mast 4, wherein the latter is not yet connected to the fuselage 8. As explained above, the front wing 10 is attached to the end section of the fuselage 8 located on the upstream side, wherein a kind of sectional view of the fuselage 8 is shown in the view according to FIG. 2 , so that the winglet 14 of the front wing 10 is not visible.

A shoe 20 is attached to the mast 4, which protrudes laterally beyond the mast profile and is inserted into a receptacle 22 of the fuselage 8. In the illustrated embodiment, the shoe 20 has a recess 24 formed at an end section 23 on the upstream side in the side view shown in FIG. 2 , which widens to the left (in the upstream direction) in the depiction according to FIG. 2 . On the downstream side, a fixing lug 26 is provided in which a threaded receptacle 28 is integrated. In the shown example, this is formed by a nut 30 being inserted into a through-hole 32 of the fixing lug 26.

The fixing lug 26 has a lower height h than a base 34, which is designed with the height H. The transition between the fixing lug 26 and the base 34 is concavely rounded.

The receptacle 22 has a corresponding structure so that the shoe 20 can be inserted flush into the receptacle 22. Accordingly, the receptacle 22 has a chamber 36 which is adapted to the base 34 in terms of dimensions. The chamber 36 merges towards the right (view according to FIG. 2 ) into a fixing space 38 which is formed in accordance with the contour of the fixing lug 26, the transition between the fixing space 38 and the chamber 36 also being rounded. The resulting bottom contour is designed in such a way that the shoe 20 is supported over its entire surface in the fixing position explained below with reference to FIG. 4 .

In the region of a side wall 40 arranged on the left in FIG. 2 , a pin 42 passes through the chamber 36 perpendicular to the drawing plane, the diameter of which is selected such that it can enter the recess 24, wherein the relative positioning being such that in the fixing position the shoe 20 rests with its front face 44 against the side wall 40.

The receptacle 22 is formed on a central part 46 of the fuselage 8, wherein a tensioning screw 48 is provided in the region of the central part 46 in which the fixing space 38 of the receptacle 22 is formed, the threaded bolt 50 of which plunges into the fixing space 38. The threaded bolt 50 is formed with a handle 52 designed as a rotary lever forming a lever arm so that the tensioning screw 48 can be tightened quite easily by hand. During that the tensioning screw 48 is received in the central part 46 in such a way that it cannot be lost. In the illustrated embodiment, this is done by means of a locking washer 54 which is arranged in a through-hole 56 of the central part 46 and through which also the threaded bolt 50 passes. The through-hole 56 is widened downwardly to form a pocket 58 in which the handle 52 is received. This pocket 58 is configured to allow the handle 52 to rotate about the axis of the threaded bolt 50. In the illustrated embodiment, the tensioning screw 48 is retained in the through-hole 56 such that it maintains its axial position in which the threaded bolt 50 does not project upwardly, or only slightly, from the chamber 36 toward the mast 4.

In principle, however, the tensioning screw 48 could also be guided movably in the axial direction in the through-hole 56, so that it plunges into the pocket 58 as it tensioned, for example.

As shown in FIG. 3 , to connect the mast 4 to the fuselage 8, the mast 4 is first angled at an angle α to the longitudinal extent of the fuselage 8 so that the shoe 20 with the recess 24 can be placed on the pin 42 and the rear fixing lug 26 still protrudes upwardly from the receptacle 22.

In a further assembly step, the mast 4 is pivoted in the direction of the arrow, the pivot bearing being formed by the engagement of the recess 24 with the pin 42 and the fixing lug 26 pivoting into the fixing space 38 until the threaded receptacle 28 is aligned with respect to the threaded bolt 50. The threaded bolt 50 is then screwed into the nut 30 by rotating the handle 52, such that the mast 4 is angled into the receptacle 22 by the operative engagement with the threaded bolt 50 until the shoe 20 comes to rest flush within the receptacle 22. This fixing position is shown in FIG. 4 . The angle α is then approximately 90°. As explained, the handle 52 of the tensioning screw 48 closes flush with the pocket 58 of the fuselage 8 during this position fixing or at least in the fixing position, so that there is no protrusion.

In this case, the nut 30 is in threaded engagement with the threaded bolt 50, wherein the recess 24 engages around the pin 42 in a form-fitting manner, so that the fuselage 8 is fixed to the mast 4 without any clearance.

In FIG. 5 a , the shoe 20 is separately depicted. Accordingly, it has a mast pocket 60 formed in accordance with the profile of the mast 4, into which the end section of the mast 4 on the fuselage-side is inserted and fixed by means of two screws which pass through the screw holes 62 as shown.

The cross-section of the shoe 20 is such that the mast pocket 60 can be formed with sufficient cross-sectional area and wall area. The shoe 20 tapers in the area of the end section 23 on the upstream side, where the recess 24 (not visible in FIG. 5 a ) is formed as explained above. At the right end section of the shoe 20 in Figure Sa, the fixing lug 26 is formed with the nut 30, which is fixed in the through-hole 56.

FIG. 5 b shows a top view of the receptacle 22 formed in the central part 46 of the fuselage 8. The profile of the receptacle 22 is formed according to the shoe profile, wherein the pin 42 is arranged in the end section 23 of the chamber 36 tapering in the inflow direction, which passes through the chamber 36 in the transverse direction (transverse to the mast axis) parallel to the side wall 40. The end portion of the receptacle 22 which is distant from the pin 42 is formed, as explained, as a fixing space 38 which is intruded relative to the chamber 36 via the rounding. The threaded bolt 50 projects into this fixing space 38, which in turn passes through the through-hole 56, wherein the handle 52 is not visible in FIG. 5 b . As explained above, the shoe 20 is placed with its recess 24 against the pin 42 and then it is angled into the receptacle 22 and fixed in position by tightening the tensioning screw 48.

When the tensioning screw 48 is fully tightened, the shoe 20 closes flush with the receptacle 22, and thus, with the central part 46 of the fuselage 8 as shown in FIG. 6 .

As shown in the bottom view according to FIG. 7 , the handle 52 also plunges flush into the pocket 58 of the fuselage 8 at least in this fixing position. In the depiction according to FIG. 7 , rounded end faces 64 a, 64 b of the handle 52 can be seen, wherein the radius R of the rounding corresponds to the distance from the axis of the threaded bolt 50 that is connected to the handle 52. Peripheral walls 66 a, 66 b of the pocket 58 are rounded with a corresponding radius R such that the gap dimension is minimal. The pocket 58 is opened to the side (approximately in the vertical direction according to FIG. 7 ), so that the handle 52 can rotate freely.

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 7 , the width b of the central part 46, and thus, the width of the pocket 58 is substantially smaller than its longitudinal extent L, so that the handle 52 protrudes laterally and section-wise from the pocket 58 during rotating and can be gripped more easily.

In order to position the handle 52 within the pocket 58, latching means can be formed in the region of the end faces 64 a, 64 b and the peripheral walls 66 a, 66 b, which form a form-fit that can be overcome with a certain amount of force. For example, protrusions can be formed on the end faces 64 a, 64 b, which engage in corresponding recesses on the peripheral walls 66 a, 66 b with a precise fit. Of course, a kinematic reversal can also be realized.

In FIG. 7 , the reference sign 68 designates a tool attachment, for example a hexagon socket, to which a tool can be attached for tightening the threaded bolt 50. Accordingly, the tool attachment 68 is non-rotatably connected to the threaded bolt 50 or is formed integrally therewith.

FIG. 8 shows a variant of the above-described embodiment in which the shoe 20 is formed integrally with the mast 4. Of course, the shoe 20 can also be connected to the mast 4 in the manner described above. Similar to the example described above, the shoe 20 is inserted precisely-fitted into the receptacle 22 of the fuselage 8 and has an annularly curved counterpart 70 at its end section 23 on the upstream side, arranged on the left in FIG. 8 , which can be pivoted into a correspondingly shaped pivoting pocket 72 in the direction of the arrow, wherein the radius of curvature of the counterpart and of the pivoting pocket corresponds to the pivoting angle by which the mast 4 is pivoted during attachment. After pivoting in, the shoe 20 fits accurately in the receptacle 22 so that the tensioning screw 48 can be tightened in a further operation step to bring it into threaded engagement with the nut 30 on the shoe 20.

In all described examples, it is preferred that the pivoting in is done from the upstream side of the mast 4, so that the hydrodynamic forces acting during driving act on the mast 4 in this pivoting direction, so that the shoe 20 is also loaded hydrodynamically in the direction of its fixing position, in addition to the clamping force of the tensioning screw 48.

FIG. 9 shows a further variant of a foil arrangement 2 according to the invention, in which the arrangement is rotated by 180° compared to the variants described above, so that the inflow is from the right. As in the embodiment described at the beginning, a pin 42 is held within the receptacle 22 of the fuselage 8, against which the shoe 20 is placed with its recess 24 during mounting. On the opposite side of the shoe 20, the fixing lug 26 is formed, which, in the fixing position, plunges into the fixing space 38 of the receptacle. In turn, the threaded receptacle 28 indicated by a dashed dot is then formed in the fixing lug 26, which can be brought into threaded engagement with the threaded bolt 50 on the fuselage-side.

In contrast to the above-described example, the rotation of the threaded bolt 50 for fixing or releasing the shoe 20 is not performed by means of a rotary lever rigidly connected to the threaded bolt 50, but by means of a pivoting lever 74 which is mounted in the pocket 58 so as to pivot around a pivoting axis 76. In order to actuate, i.e., adjust, the threaded stud 50, the pivoting lever 74 is pivoted out of the pocket 58 in the manner shown in FIG. 9 , so that the threaded bolt 50 can then be easily rotated to lead to threaded engagement with the shoe 20. The width of the pocket 58 permits this rotation of the pivoting lever 74. Depending on the pivot angle β of the pivoting lever 74, the lever arm for applying a torque can thereby be changed. After the shoe 20 has been clamped in the receptacle 22, the pivoting lever 74 is pivoted away so as to completely plunge into the pocket 58.

In this case, the fixing position shown in FIG. 10 can be maintained, for example, by means of a latch or the like. FIGS. 9 and 10 show a hydrodynamically improved system which has a higher operational reliability than an embodiment with latched pivoting lever 74. In this variant, a cover 78 is held at a distance from the pivoting lever 74 on the fuselage 8, which, in its opened position, allows the pivoting lever 74 to rotate. The cover 78 can be pivoted about a cover axis 80, so that after the pivoting lever 74 has been moved into its fixing position within the pocket 58, the cover 78 can be pivoted in the direction of the pocket 58, as shown in FIG. 10 , with a fitting protrusion 82 dipping into a fitting recess 84 of the fuselage 8 with a precise fit. The fitting protrusion 82 has a fitting recess 86 into which a locating pin 88 guided on the fuselage 8 is insertable to secure the cover 78 in the position shown in FIG. 10 . In this position, inadvertent displacement of the pivoting lever 74 from its fixing position is reliably prevented. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 10 , the cover 78 is inserted into the foot position 8 with a precise fit, so that the hydrodynamic resistance is minimal. To release it, the fixing pin 88 is pulled out of the fixing recess 86 so that the cover 78 can in turn be swung out to release the pivoting lever 74.

The locating pin 88 can be provided with an anti-loss device so that it cannot be lost even in case of release. In principle, it is also possible to guide the locating pin in the foot position 8 in a spring-loaded manner, wherein it is preloaded in its locating direction. Another possibility is to design the locating pin 88 as a threaded bolt so that it is adjusted into the locating position by rotating.

In principle, the handle 52 or the pivoting lever 74 could also be used to actuate a clamping device that is not threaded and that, in its clamping/fixing position, holds the shoe 20 within the receptacle 22 in a force-fitting manner. A slider or other element guided along a link guide can also be adjusted between a release position and the fixing position via the handle 52 or the pivoting lever 74. Accordingly, the invention is not limited to the use of a tensioning screw.

In the above-described examples, the end section of the mast 4 which is inserted either in the shoe 20 or in the fixing device 6 designed as a mast plate is milled off in the area of the leading and trailing edges so that these end sections form a profile as shown in the top view in FIG. 6 . Accordingly, the pocket of the shoe 20 is then formed with rounded upstream and downstream end sections. These filleted end portions are denoted by reference numerals 90, 92 in FIG. 6 . As explained, this approach is very cost-intensive, since a separate milling operation is required to machine the mast profile. This disadvantage is overcome by the foil arrangement 2 shown in FIGS. 11 to 13 .

In this embodiment, both a leading edge 94 and a trailing edge 96 of the mast 4 are continuously formed according to the hydrodynamically optimal drop profile. The end section of the mast 4 on the fuselage-side is inserted into a shoe 20, as explained above, which in turn is then connected to the fuselage 8 as described above. The pocket 58 of the shoe 20 is designed, similar to the example according to FIG. 6 , with a profile which is easy to manufacture, but which is designed to be considerably wider than the mast profile in the area of the leading edge 94 and the trailing edge 96. In the example shown, this distance between the pocket 58, which is manufactured in an oversized manner, and the mast profile is filled by means of an intermediate piece 98 on the upstream side and an intermediate piece 100 on the downstream side, so that the mast is precisely fixed in position within the pocket 58. The areas of the mast located between the intermediate pieces 98, 100 lie flat against the corresponding peripheral wall of the pocket 58.

FIG. 12 shows a detailed depiction of the area in which the downstream intermediate piece 100 is arranged. It can be clearly seen in this depiction that the trailing edge 96 tapers to a point in accordance with the hydrodynamically optimized profile. The pocket 58 of the shoe 20 is designed with oversize in this area, the resulting space being filled by the correspondingly profiled intermediate piece 100. Its profile is V-shaped in the broadest sense (see view according to FIG. 13 ) and has a rounded base 102 which encompasses the trailing edge 96 and is adjoined by two intermediate piece shanks 104, 106 which taper away from the base 102, so that the gap between the mast 4 and the pocket wall also tapers away from the trailing edge 96 accordingly.

In the illustrated embodiment, a bottom wall 108 is formed within the area of the base 102 of the intermediate piece 100, which is either integrally formed on the intermediate piece 100 or is attached as a separate component. This bottom wall secures the intermediate piece to the mast 96 so that the intermediate piece 100 is prevented from slipping out/becoming loose.

FIG. 13 shows a separate depiction of the intermediate piece 100 with the rounded base 102 and the relatively tapering intermediate piece shanks 104, 106 extending from it. The radius r in the region of the base 102 between the two shanks 104, 106 is designed to correspond to the shape of the trailing edge 96. The outer radius R of the base 102 is selected so that the correspondingly formed pocket 58 can be milled in a simple manner.

Towards the bottom (view according to FIG. 13 ), the aforementioned bottom wall 108 extends between the intermediate piece shanks 104, 106, which prevents the intermediate piece 100 from detaching from the mast 4. Also, FIG. 13 clearly shows the tapered ends 110, 112 of the two intermediate piece shanks 104, 106. Accordingly, the space between the inner peripheral wall of the pocket 20 and the outer peripheral wall of the mast profile closes away from the base 102, such that the mast 4 is then embraced by the peripheral walls of the pocket 20 in precisely-fitted manner.

The intermediate piece 98 is designed accordingly, with the radius r being slightly larger on the upstream side than on the downstream side.

The concept described above can be implemented in a corresponding manner in the area of the fixing device 6, which is designed as a mast plate and which is also designed with a receiving pocket for the mast end section, the geometry of which is formed in accordance with the pocket 58 on the fuselage-side, the space or spaces between the leading edge and/or the trailing edge and the pocket being filled in turn by intermediate pieces.

According to the invention, it is preferred if these intermediate pieces 104, 106 are produced as molded plastic parts, for example by injection molding or by 3D printing or the like.

The applicant reserves the right to direct a separate independent patent claim to a foil arrangement with at least one such intermediate piece.

A foil arrangement is disclosed in which a fuselage is connected to a mast without any tools. Further, a foil arrangement is disclosed in which end sections of the mast are inserted into receiving pockets of a mast plate, a shoe or a fuselage, wherein intermediate pieces can be provided on the upstream and/or downstream side.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   -   1 board     -   2 foil arrangement     -   4 mast     -   6 fixing device     -   8 fuselage     -   10 frontwing     -   12 rearwing     -   14 winglet     -   16 winglet     -   18 connection (quickmount)     -   20 shoe     -   22 receptacle     -   23 end section on the upstream side     -   24 recess     -   26 fixing lug     -   28 threaded receptacle     -   30 nut     -   32 through-hole     -   34 base     -   36 chamber     -   38 fixing space     -   40 side wall     -   42 pin     -   44 front face     -   46 central part     -   48 tensioning screw     -   50 threaded bolt     -   52 handle     -   54 locking washer     -   56 through-hole     -   58 pocket     -   60 mast pocket     -   62 screw hole     -   64 end face     -   66 peripheral wall     -   68 tool attachment     -   70 counterpart     -   72 pivoting pocket     -   74 pivoting lever     -   76 pivoting axis     -   78 cover     -   80 cover axis     -   82 fitting protrusion     -   84 fitting recess     -   86 fixing recess     -   88 locating pin     -   90 rounded end section     -   92 rounded end section     -   94 leading edge     -   96 trailing edge     -   98 intermediate piece     -   100 intermediate piece     -   102 base     -   104 intermediate piece shank     -   106 intermediate piece shank     -   108 bottom wall     -   110 end     -   112 end 

1. Foil arrangement for a water sports apparatus, in particular for a surf-, SUP-, windsurf- or kiteboard, with a mast (4) which can be fixed to the water sports apparatus and whose end section, which is distant from the water sports apparatus, is detachably connected to a fuselage (8) which is designed to carry wings, wherein the mast (4) can be connected to the fuselage (8) without any tools, wherein the mast (4) has a shoe (20) which can be inserted in a force-fitting and/or form-fitting manner into a receptacle (22) on the fuselage-side and can be fixed there in position by means of at least one fixing means, characterized in that the fixing means has a handle (52), which preferably plunges, in a fixing position, approximately flush into a pocket (58) of the fuselage (8) when the shoe (20) is connected to the mast (4).
 2. The foil arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the shoe (20) and the receptacle (22) are butted in an insertion direction.
 3. The foil arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means is a tensioning element, preferably a tensioning screw (48), a tensioning bolt or a tensioning lever.
 4. The foil arrangement according to claim 1, comprising a securing means for securing the fixing means in the fixing position.
 5. The foil arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the securing means is formed with locking protrusions on the one hand and corresponding locking recesses on the other hand.
 6. The foil arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the securing means has a cover (78), which is preferably held pivotably on the fuselage (8), and which, in the fixing position, covers the pocket (58) and the tensioning element.
 7. Foil arrangement according to one of the preceding patent claims, wherein the fuselage (8) is connected to the mast (4) by means of two fixing means spaced apart from each other.
 8. The foil arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the shoe (20) is insertable into the receptacle (22) by angling.
 9. The foil arrangement according to claim 8, having a pivot bearing which is fixed in the receptacle (22) or on the shoe (20) and with which a counterpart (70) is associated on the shoe (20) or on the receptacle (22), wherein the counterpart (70) is designed such that the pivot bearing and the counterpart (70) are engaged in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner in the fixing position.
 10. The foil arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the pivot bearing has a pin (42), which is inserted into the receptacle (22) and which, in the fixing position, plunges into a recess (24) and is engaged behind by the peripheral wall thereof.
 11. The foil arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the pivot bearing has a pivoting pocket (72) which is formed in accordance with the pivoting radius and into which the correspondingly formed counterpart (70) plunges in the fixing position.
 12. The foil arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the fixing means is formed on the downstream side at a distance from the pivot bearing.
 13. The foil arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the tensioning screw (48) has a fine thread.
 14. The foil arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the handle (52) is a rotary lever whose axis of rotation is coaxial with an axis of the fixing means.
 15. The foil arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the rotary lever is a pivoting lever (74) which can be pivoted into the pocket (58) in the fixing position.
 16. The foil arrangement according to claim 14, wherein a peripheral wall of the pocket (58) is formed approximately circularly corresponding to the area covered by the rotary lever during actuation.
 17. The foil arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a depth of the pocket (58) is approximately equal to a height of the rotary lever.
 18. The foil arrangement according to claim 14, wherein a circumference of the rotary lever is rounded according to the radius (R) of the pocket (58).
 19. The foil arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a tool attachment (68) is formed on the handle (52).
 20. The foil arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the shoe (20) plunges into the mast (4) with a mast-side fixing protrusion.
 21. The foil arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the mast (4) and the shoe (20) are formed integrally.
 22. The foil arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the mast (4) is inserted with at least one end section into a receiving pocket of a mast plate, a shoe (20) or the fuselage (8) on the water-sports-apparatus-side or on the fuselage-side, wherein upstream and downstream regions of the mast are tapered or rounded and this taper or rounding extends into the receiving pocket, into which an intermediate piece (98, 100) is inserted which fills a space between the peripheral wall of the receiving pocket and the end portion of the mast (4).
 23. The foil arrangement according to claim 22, wherein the intermediate piece (98, 100) is made of plastic.
 24. The foil arrangement according to patent claim 22, wherein the intermediate piece (98, 100) has a bottom wall (108) on which the end portion of the mast (4) rests.
 25. Water sports apparatus with a foil arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a frontwing (10) and a rearwing (12) are held on the fuselage (8). 